Method and apparatus for producing radiator shells and the like



Feb. 27, 1934. GE. IRELAND 1,948,918 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCINGRADIATOR SHELLS AND THE LIKE Filed April 6, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet Feb. 27,1934. |RELAND 1,948,918

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING RADIATOR SHELLS AND THE LIKE FiledApril 6, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 //V VE N T01? by GEORGE 5. ma AND.

Feb. 27, 1934. G, lRELAND 1,948,918 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCINGRADIATOR SHELLS AND THE LIKE Filed April 6, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig3141mm 5. hqfLANll GEORGE Patented Feb. 27, 1934 PATENT OFFICE I METHODAND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING RADIATOR SHELLS AND THE LIKE George E.Ireland, Toledo, Ohio; Edith May Ireland and Dwight B. Ireland executorsof said George E. Ireland, deceased Application April 6, 1932.

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for producingradiatorshells and the like and more particularly for producing sheetmetal shells of a U-shape.

In the production of radiator shells it is customary to first provide apreliminary partially formed shell which is then given its final form bya separate operation or operations. The methods heretofore employed forproducing this preliminary shell have been such as to require a numberof operations and in many cases the exterior surface of the shell wouldbe marred by die marks or wrinkles so as to prevent the same from takingthe high finish desired. Fur- 16- ther, these preliminary shells havebeen formed all ' from large sheets of metal and the surfacecharacteristics of metal which has been rolled in large sheets differssubstantially from the surface characteristics of metal which is rolledin relatively narrow strips and the latter will take a much higherfinish than will the former. Moreover in forming the shells from largesheets of metal there is always a considerable waste of metal.

One object of the present invention is to provide a method whereby ashell of this kind can be quickly and easily produced at a low cost andwithout waste of material.

A' further object of the invention is to provide a method wherebyU-shaped shells may be formed from a fiat narrow strip of metal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method whereby twopreliminary shells may be formed simultaneously from a single strip ofmetal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method whereby shellsof this kind may be produced without marring the exterior surfacethereof in any manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiicientapparatus for carrying out the method.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the apparatus is describedin detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view, partially brokenaway, of the initial blank or strip of metal from which the shells areto be formed; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lower portion of anapparatus for forming the shell; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig.5 is a sectional detail view of one of the corner die members; Fig. 6 isa side elevation, partly in section, of two preliminary shells formed inone piece; Fig. 7 is a sec- Serial No. 603,602

tional view showing the two preliminary shells separated to formseparate shells; and Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are sectional detail views ofdevices for imparting final form to the shells, showing the successivesteps of the operation.

In forming a U-shaped shell for a radiator, or other purpose, I providea flat strip of metal and bend the same into a U-shape conformingsubstantially to the general contour of the finished shell. ThisU-shaped strip is then placed about an internal forming device and theend portions thereof firmly clamped to hold the same against movement.referably the clamping means is of such a character that it will alsoimpart an initial form to the end portions of the shell. While the stripis held by the clamping device the forming device is actuated to expandthe body of the strip to the desired cross sectional shape. When, as inthe present instance, two preliminary shells are formed simultaneouslyfrom a single strip of metal the initial strip is of such a width as topermit the two shells to be formed edge to edge and the forming devicewill draw the intermediate longitudinal portion of the strip outwardlybeyond the edges thereof so as to cause the lateral portions of thestrip to slope from an intermediate longitudinal line toward therespective edges thereof. When the strip has been so formed it isremoved from the clamping devices and severed along a central1ongitudinal line to. separate the same into two partially formed shellsand these partially formed shells are then subjected to the action offorming devices to complete the formation thereof.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one form of apparatusfor carrying out the method to produce a radiator shell of theparticular type shown. It will be understood, of course, that the shellmay take various cross sectional shapes and that the apparatus may takedifferent forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

As shown in the drawings the apparatus comprises an internal formingdevice which is in some respects similar to the forming device shown inmy copending application filed April 4, 1932, Serial No. 602,884, but isdesigned to operate on an open ended or U-shaped shell instead of ashell having both ends closed. This internal forming device. comprisesside die members 10, an end die member 11 and corner die members 12. Theseveral die members are supported on a base 13 for movement thereonrelatively one to the. other. 'In some cases the die members may bemounted directly on the base but when it is desired to expand the endwall of the shell to a greater extent than the side walls are expandedit is preferable that a part or all of the die members shall be mountedon a supplemental support which is movable with relation to the base. Inthe present apparatus I have mounted the several die members on a plate14 which is mounted on the base 13 for movement with relation thereto inthe direction of the length of the shell. Each die member is movablerelatively to the plate and may be mounted thereon in any suitablemanner. The plate 14 is here shown as mounted in a guideway formed byflanges 14a on the base and each die member has rigidly connectedtherewith a gib or slide block 15 which is mounted in a groove 15a inthe base. Mounted on the base 13, adjacent to that end of the formingdevice opposite the end die member, is a clamping device adapted toengage the end portions of a U-shaped strip 16 which has been placedabout the forming device and to hold those end portions againstmovement. In the present construction, the clamping device comprises diemembers adapted to impart to the adjacent portions of the strip a shapeconforming roughly to the shape imparted thereto by the die members 10.Those portions of the strip which are gripped by the clamping diemembers are trimmed off in the finishing of the shell. In theconstruction illustrated the clamping device comprises outer die members17 rigidly secured to the base 13, beyond the end of the plate 14, andinner die members 18 movable toward and from the outer die members. Thetwo pairs of die members 17 and 18 are so placed with relation to theforming device that the ends of the U-shaped strip extending about theforming device will extend between the die members 17 and 18 of therespective pairs. The movable die members may be actuated in anysuitable manner but preferably they are provided with inclined faces 19which diverge upwardly and which are engaged by the inclined faces of atapered or wedge-shaped expanding member 20 which is rigidly secured toand actuated by a ram 20a, as shown in Fig. 4. The movable die members18 may be retracted in various ways but, as here shown, they havedove-tailed connection with the expanding member 20 so that the upwardmovement of that expanding member will retract the die members.

The forming die members may be actuated in any suitable manner butpreferably this is accomplished by an expanding member or plunger 21rigidly secured to a ram 22 and having its lower longitudinal edgesbeveled to provide inclined surfaces 23 which engage the correspondinginclined surfaces 24 in the side die members 10. The expanding device 21also has its lower transverse edge at that end adjacent to the end diemember 11 beveled, as shown at 25, to engage an inclined surface 26 onthe end die member. The several inclined surfaces are so arranged thatthe die members 10 and 11 will be simultaneously engaged and actuated bythe expanding device and will thus, be forced outwardly. The corner diemembers 12 are not directly engaged by the expanding device but havecontact surfaces contacting with inclined surfaces 27 and 28 on the endand side die members, respectively, so that the outward movement of theend and side die members will force the corner die members outwardlyalong diagonal lines. Preferably the corner die members have dovetailedor other suitable connection with the side and end die members, as shownat 26a, so that they will move both outwardly and inwardly with the endand side die members.

The closed end of a radiator shell of this type is usually deeper thanthe sides of the shell and it is therefore necessary to impart a greaterexpansion to the end wall than to the side walls. To accomplish this Iimpart to the end and corner die members a longitudinal movement greaterthan the lateral movement which is imparted to the side and corner diemembers. With the present apparatus all the die members are movedsubstantially equal distances by the initial movement of the expandingdevice 21 and the further movement of the expanding device causes thesupplemental support or plate 14 to move lengthwise on the base 13,thereby moving all the die members lengthwise of the shell. When somoved the end and corner die members will further expand the end wall ofthe shell but the side and corner die members will merely slide alongthe side walls of the shell without changing the shape thereof. For thispurpose the plate 14 is provided with an upwardly extending lug or cammember 35 which is arranged to be engaged by a cooperating cam member 36carried by the expanding device 21, this engagement taking place afterthe several die members have been actuated by the inclined or camsurfaces 23 and 25 of the actuating device.

In the operation of the apparatus a fiat strip 105 of metal, such as isshown in Fig. 1, is bent to U- form, by the use of any suitable bendingmechanism, and is placed about the forming die members 10, 11 and 12 andits ends inserted between the combined forming and clamping die members110 1'7 and 18. With the strip in this position the ram 20a is moveddownwardly and the expanding member 20 forces the die members 18outwardly, thus bending the end portions of the strip to the desiredshape and clamping the same 115 tightly between the die members 17 and18. The ram 20a then remains in its lowered position and the ends of thestrips are held firmly against movement while the ram 22 is lowered andthe die members 10, 11 and 12 forced outwardly to ex- 0 pand the stripas a whole to the desired cross sectional shape and then movedlengthwise of the shell to further expand the end wall thereof. It willbe noted that there are no outer forming die members or other parts incontact with the 5 exterior surface of the body of the strip andtherefore the outer surface of the finished shell will not be marred inany way, that portion of the shell which is engaged by the clamping diesbeing subsequentlyrremoved. After the expand- 30 ing member 21 has beenmoved to its lowermost position and the desired shape imparted to thestrip both rams are elevated, thereby releasing the strip and permittingthe same to be removed.

With the particular apparatus here shown the 35 strip now has a crosssectional shape equivalent to two partially formed shells and connectedone to the other at the longitudinal center of the strip and reversedwith relation one to the other. After the strip has been removed 1 fromthe forming device it is severed along a central longitudinal line, byany suitable-means, such as a rotary cutter, to divide the strip intotwo separate partially formed shells as shown in 'Fig. '7. Each of thesepartially formed preliminary shells is then separately subjected to theaction of other forming, devices to impart final shape thereto. Theseforming devices may be 'of any suitable character and in Figs. 8, 9 and10 I have shown final forming devices of a well 5 known type. As thereshown, these forming devices comprise fixed die members 29 and 30adaptedto engage and support the marginal portions of the partially formedshell, leaving the intermediate portion 31 of the shell unsupported. Itwill be understood that these die members conform to the general contourof the partially formed shell so that when placed thereon the shell willbe supported in the position shown in Fig. 8. With the shell in thisposition other die members 32 and 33, are moved downwardly intoengagement with the marginal portions of the shell and these portionsare bent to the desired shape and are firmly clamped to the fixed diemembers, as shown in Fig. 9. With the shell clamped in this position asupplemental die member 34 is 'moved' downwardly into contact with theintermediate portion 31 of the shell and draws this portion to thedesired final shape, as shown in Fig. 10, thereby completing theformation of the shell.

While I have described in detail my method and one apparatus forcarrying out the same I wish it to be understood that I do not desiretobe limited to the details of either the method or the apparatus, asvarious modifications there- 'of may occur to a person skilled in theart.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The method of producing a radiator shell or the like comprisingbending a fiat strip of sheet metal into a U-shape, placing saidU-shaped strip about an internal forming device and inserting the freeend portions thereof in a clamping device, actuating said clampingdevice to secure said end portions against movement, actuating saidforming device to expand the intermediate longitudinal portion of saidstrip outwardly beyond the edges thereof, severing said strip along acentral longitudinal line to provide two partially formed shells andsubjecting said partially formed shells separately to the action ofother expanding devices to impart final form 'thereto.

2. The method of producing a radiator shell or the like comprisingbending a flat strip of metal into a U-shape, placing said U-shapedstrip about an internal forming device and inserting the end portionsthereof in a clamping device, actuating said clamping device to securesaid end portions against movement, actuating said forming device toexpand the walls of said strip to the desired cross sectional shape,again actuating said forming device to expand the end wall only of saidstrip to a difierent shape, removing said strip from said forming deviceand subjecting the same to the action of other forming devices to impartfinal form thereto.

3. The method of producing a radiator shell or the like comprisingbending a fiat strip of sheet metal into a U-shape, placing saidU-shaped strip about a plurality of internal die members, clamping theends of said strip to hold the same against movement, imparting outwardmovement to said die members to expand the side and end walls of saidstrip, moving said die members lengthwise of said U-shaped strip tofurther expand the end wall thereof, removing said strip from said diemembers and subjecting the same to the action of other forming devicesto impart final form thereto.

4. An apparatus for forming U-shaped shells comprising an internalforming device, a clamping device arranged at one end of said formingdevice to receive the end portions of a U-shaped strip placed about saidforming device, and means for first actuating said clamping device tosecure the end portions of said strip against movement and for thenactuating said forming device.

'5. In an apparatus for forming U-shaped shells, an internal formingdevice comprising side die members, an end die member and corner diemembers, a clamping device mounted in fixed position at that end of saidforming device opposite said end die member and adapted to engage theend portions of a U-shaped strip placed about said forming device, andmeans for first actuating said clamping device to clamp said endportions against movement and then moving said die members outwardly.

r 6. In an apparatus for forming U-shaped shells,

an internal forming device comprising side die members, an end diemember and corner die members, fixed die membersmounted at that end ofsaid forming device opposite said end die member, movable die memberscooperating with said fixed die members, said fixed and movable diemembers being arranged to receive between them the respective endportions of a U-shaped' strip placed about said forming device, meansfor actuatingsaid movable die members to form the end portions of saidstrip and to clamp the same against movement, and means for actuatingthe die members of said forming device to impart the desired crosssectional shape to said strip.

'7. An apparatus for forming U-shaped shells comprising a base, aplurality of internal die members supported on said base for outwardmovement with relation one to the other and for movement in unisonlengthwise of said base, a clamping device arranged to receive the endsof a U-shaped strip placed about said die members, and means foractuating said clamping device to secure the end portions of said stripagainst movement, for then imparting outward movement to the several diemembers, then moving said die members lengthwise of said base in unison.

8. An apparatus for forming U-shaped shells comprising a base, asupporting member mounted on said base for movement lengthwise thereof,a plurality of internal die members mounted on said supporting memberfor outward movement with relation thereto and for movement therewithlengthwise of said base, a clamping device arranged on said base toreceive the ends of a U-shaped strip placed about said die members,means for actuating said clamping device to secure the end portions ofsaid strip against movement, and means for first moving said die membersoutwardly on said supporting member and then moving said supportingmember and the die members lengthwise of said base.

9. The method of producing a radiator shell or the like comprisingbending a strip of sheet metal having substantially parallel edges toprovide a U-shaped structure, placing said U-shaped structure about aninternal forming device and inserting the free end portions thereof in acombined forming and clamping device, actuating said combined device toform said end portions of said structure and clamp the same againstmovement, actuating said internal forming device to expand the remainingportions of said structure to the desired cross sectional shape,removing said structure from said forming device, and subjecting thesame to the action of form a radiator shell I or the like comprisingbending a strip of sheet metal having substantially parallel edges toprovide a U-shaped structure, placing said U-shaped structure about aplurality of internal die members, clamping the free ends of saidstructure to hold the same against movement, imparting outward movementto said die members to expand the side and end walls of said structure,moving said die members lengthwise of said structure to further expandthe end wall thereof, removing said structure from said die membersand'subjecting the same to the action of other forming devices to impartfinal form thereto.

11. The method of producing a radiator shell or the like comprisingbending a flat strip of sheet metal into a U-shape, clamping the freeends of said U-shaped strip to hold the same against movement,subjecting the U-shaped strip to the action of forming members moving indirections substantially at right angles to the plane of the respectiveparts of said strip to expand the same to the desired cross sectionalshape, removing said U-shaped strip from said forming members andsubjecting the same to the action of other forming devices to impartfinal form thereto.

, 12. The method of producing a radiator shell or the like, comprisingbending a fiat strip of sheet metal .into a U-shape, placing said U-shaped strip about a plurality of internal forming members, andinserting the free ends thereof in a clamping device, actuating saidclamping device to secure said end portions against movement, thenmoving said forming members in directions substantially at right anglesto the plane of the respective parts of said strip, to expand said stripto the desired cross sectional shape, removing said strip from saidforming members and subjecting the same to the action of other formingdevices to impart final form thereto.

13. The method of producing a radiator shell or the like comprisingbending a flat strip of sheet metal into a U-shape, placing said U-shaped strip about a plurality of forming members and inserting the freeend portions thereof in a combined forming and clamping device,actuating said combined device to form the end portions of said stripand clamp the same against movement, moving said forming members indirections substantially at right angles to the planes of the respectiveparts of said strip to expand the remaining portions of said strip tothe desired cross sectional shape, removing said strip and subjectingthe same to the action of other forming devices to impart final formthereto.

14. The method of producing a radiator shell or the like comprisingbending a flat strip of sheet metal intoa U-shape, placing said. U-

shaped strip about a plurality of internal forming members and insertingthe free end portions thereof in a clamping device, actuating saidclamping device to secure said end portions against movement, thenmoving said forming members in directions substantially at right anglesto the planes of the respective parts of said strip to expand said stripto the desired cross sectional shape, severing said strip along anintermediate longitudinal line to provide two partially formed shells,and subjecting said partially formed shells separately to the action ofother forming devices to impart final form thereto. GEORGE E. IRELAND.

